Max walked into the apartment after work, heading for the kitchen.

Kendra was standing by the counter, drinking a cup of coffee. She pointed to the counter.

"You got something."

Max walked over and picked up the envelope. She turned it over and saw

her name printed on the outside.

"Where did it come from?"

"It was on the door when I came home." Kendra said, "Aren't you going

to open it."

"All right."

She opened the envelope slowly. Inside was a single sheet of folded

paper. Carefully she pulled the paper out and unfolded it.

Max

I have agonized over how to tell you how I feel but nothing seemed

right. So I am leaving it up to you. I will send a car to pick you up at 7:00

tonight. I am leaving the choice up to you. I hope to see you this evening.

Your Secret admirer

"That is so sweet." Kendra whispered, "He is so wonderful Max."

"Who?"

"Logan of course."

"You think Logan wrote this."

"Duh, Max the guy is so in love with you."

"No way. It can't be Logan. I mean when we kissed he"

Max saw Kendra's eyes open wide. She turned, heading for her bedroom.

As she tried to close the door, Kendra stuck her hand in the way. She managed to slip in the room. Max fell back on the bed, staring at the ceiling.

"So what is this about a kiss?" Kendra asked

"Its nothing."

Kendra dropped on the bed beside Max.

"If its nothing, tell me about it."

After a moment, Max sat up slowly.

"It was about 3 months ago." She began, "I had to get out of Seattle

fast. Logan took me to a cabin so that I could hide out for the night, then

the next day I was going to head for Canada and a new life."

"So you were going to run out on me and your friends."

"Chill, I'm still here."

"Sorry."

"Anyway, when we got to the cabin, we talked for a few minutes. Then

I got out. As I started to walk away, something made me turn around. I walked back to the car and kissed him."

"So what happened after that?"

"Well Logan got sick and I came back. When he got better, he basically told me that the kiss didn't mean anything. That we didn't have that kind of

relationship. So that is how I know that it wasn't him."

"So are you going to go? I mean, maybe it will be Mr. Right."

"I guess so."

She got to her feet and moved towards the door.

"You're not going like that are you?"

Max looked down at her jeans and tank top.

"Why not?"

"Max, you have a lot to learn." Kendra said, getting up, "Follow me."

Max followed Kendra out of her room, through the apartment and into her

room. Kendra shut the door. A moment later, Max shouted

"No way!"

The door opened slowly about 40 minutes later and Max stepped out. She

tugged at the bottom of the dress, wishing it were longer. The shoes

pinched her feet and her head hurt from all of the pins Kendra stuck in it.

"No date is worth this." She muttered

"Quit complaining. You will be thank me when you meet Mr. Wonderful."

"Or Mr. Worthless."

Kendra looked up at the clock.

"Well its time for you to go."

Max nodded, taking the wrap that Kendra held. She wrapped it around her

shoulder and walked out of the apartment. As she moved towards the

elevator, something made her stop. She turned and walked to the stairs, wanting to prolong this as much as possible.

She finally reached the bottom step, her feet aching from the walk down.

When she opened the door, her breath caught in her throat. Parked at

the curb was a shiny black limo. The front door opened and a man jumped

out. He walked around to the side of the car.

"Miss?"

Max walked over to the car, stopping in front of him.

"Can you tell me who sent you?"

"I was instructed to give you this when I picked you up." He said,

removing an envelope from his pocket and handing it to her.

Max took the envelope and climbed in the limo. The man shut the door as

Max settled in. The limo pulled away from the curb a few minutes later. Max

opened the envelope and pulled out a paper.

Max

If you are reading this letter, then you decided to take a chance on

me. I can only hope that you are not disappointed when we finally meet.

Your Secret admirer

"Who are you?" she whispered

The limo came to a stop about ten minutes later. She heard the front

door open and close. The back door opened and a hand extended. Max climbed out, looking around. They were in an older part of Seattle, filled with

houses. She turned to the driver.

"Is this some kind of joke?"

The driver handed her a card. She read the message.

GO TO 134 SYCAMORE ST

She looked up and saw that they were on Sycamore Street.

"Where is 134?"

The man pointed across the street. Max walked away from the limo and

towards the house. She walked up the steps, stopping outside the door. A paper on the door read

COME IN

She pushed the door open and stepped inside.

"Hello?"

When there was no answer, she walked down the hall.

"Enough is enough!" She shouted, "I am getting tired of this."

She walked in the living room to find a fire blazing. The couch was

turned to face the fire. Next to the couch was a table with two glasses. From

behind, she heard the sound of a cork pop. She spun around to see Logan

standing in the doorway.

"What? How?"

He moved towards her slowly. He picked up one glass, filled it and

handed it to her. Then he filled the other and set the bottle down.

"A toast to us." He said, sipping from his glass.

When she didn't drink anything, he set his glass down and took hers.

"Max, is everything okay?"

"Logan I don't think you want me to answer that."

He reached for her hand but she jerked away. She walked over to the

window, staring out into the night. He came over, putting his hand on her

shoulder. She stiffened and he withdrew his hand.

"Max, talk to me."

She turned, the anger flashing in her eyes.

"How could you do this to me Logan!" She shouted, "How can you play

these games with me."

"Games? What games Max?"

"Three months ago, you said the kiss meant nothing and that we had a

professional relationship. Now you are sending me notes from a secret

admirer."

When he didn't answer, she stepped around him and walked down the hall.

As she started to open the door, a hand pressed against it.

"Move your hand Logan."

Not until you listen to me."

"I don't want to hear another word from you." She hissed, "Now move

your hand or I will move it."

Logan move his hand but before she could get away, he turned her around

and back her against the door. His hands moved to either side of her and he

used to body to keep her against the door.

"If you value your life, you will let me go."

"You won't hurt me."

"Give me one reason why I won't."

Logan leaned forward, pressing his lips to her. She tried to pull away

but her kept her pressed against the door. He continued to kiss her, hoping

to convince her of his true feelings. She finally broke the kiss/

"Let me go Logan."

Logan's eyes met hers. His arms dropped and he backed away. She turned

around, reaching for the handle. Slowly she turned the handle and

opened the door. Before walking out, she whispered

"Answer me one question."

"What?"

"Why did you do this?"

"Because I love you Max. I have loved you since the minute I saw

you."

"Well its too bad you never said anything because now it doesn't

matter."

She walked out the door and down the stairs. Tears spilled from her

eyes as she approached the limo. The limo door opened and the driver jumped out. He opened the door and Max slid inside.

"Where to miss?"

"Take me home."

The door closed. Max looked at the house one more time, then turned

away.

She walked into the apartment about 15 minutes later to find Kendra

waiting up. Kendra took one look at her friends appeared and jumped up.

What happened?"

"You were right, it was Logan."

"But you look like you've been crying."

"I was."

"I might be wrong but shouldn't you be happy."

"I don't know what I am. I am so confused."

"Why don't you tell me what happened."

They walked over to the couch and sat down. Max told Kendra everything

that happened. When she finished, Kendra said

"That is so romantic."

"Romantic? Kendra did you hear anything I said."

"I heard everything."

"Then how could you possibly think that lying to me is romantic."

"Max he put everything on the line to tell you how he felt."

"But its too late."

"Is it? Max love doesn't just disappear."

Max leaned back against the couch, closing her eyes. She lifted her

head

after a minute.

"II got to go."

She jumped up and ran out of the apartment. Her mind was on nothing

more that getting to Logan. As she ran down the street, the heel of her shoe

got caught in a crack. She undid the strap, then loosened the other one and

slipped her foot out.

Barefoot, she ran to Logan's apartment. Her dress caught on something

and she heard a ripping sound but didn't stop to look at the damage. She

got to Logan's apartment and ran inside. Without stopping, she slammed open the door to the stairwell and took them two at a time.

She pushed open the door on his floor and ran down the hall. His door

was locked but knocking didn't seem important. She forced open the door and ran inside.

"Logan!" She shouted, "Logan please answer me!"

She ran into the living room to find him on the couch. He looked up,

seeing

her.

"What do you want?"

"To say I am sorry and to ask for a second chance."

"I thought you didn't want to talk to me anymore."

"Logan it was a mistake."

"You're right, it is a mistake. Now I think you should leave."

Max walked over to him. She stood next to him, hoping he would look up.

When he didn't she sat next to him. She tried to take his hand but he pulled

away.

"Logan please."

"Go home Max." he said, "Just go home."

She stood up and walked away. Before leaving the room, she stopped.

"Did you really love me?" she whispered, turning around, "Because I

need to know before I walk out of your life forever how you feel about me

Logan."

When he didn't say anything, Max started walking again. She just

reached his

door when she heard him behind her.

"Don't go." He said in a voice just above a whisper

She stopped but didn't turn around. Logan touched her shoulder gently.

She turned around and felt his arms close around her. He held her tightly

as she sobbed against his shoulder. Pulling back slowly, their eyes met. Logan brushed the tears from her eyes.

"Max, I love you. I have loved you since the first time I saw you and I will love you forever."

:I love you toonow and forever."

Logan led her back into the living room. She looked up at her again.

"So are you going to tell me about you walking or what?"

"Later Max." he said, "We have much more important things to discuss."

"Like what?"

He leaned down, kissing her gently. She pulled back, a smile on her face

"I have a feeling this conversation is far from over."

I couldn't agree more."